Class of Warrant or Right [Axis] Options to purchase common stock Warrants to purchase common stock Convertible preferred shares Investment Type [Axis] Corporate debt securities Fair Value, Hierarchy [Axis] Level 1 Level 2 Level 3 Plan Name [Axis] 2016 Stock Incentive Plan Class of Stock [Axis] Series A Preferred Stock Equity Components [Axis] Preferred Stock Common Stock Additional Paid-In Capital Accumulated Other Comprehensive Gain (Loss) Accumulated Deficit Total 1999 Amended Stock Plan Document And Entity Information Entity Registrant Name Entity Central Index Key Document Type Document Period End Date Amendment Flag Current Fiscal Year End Date Is Entity's Reporting Status Current? Entity Filer Category Entity Emerging Growth Company Entity Small Business Entity Shell Company Entity Common Stock, Shares Outstanding Document Fiscal Period Focus Document Fiscal Year Focus Entity Interactive Data Current Entity Incorporation State Country Code Entity File Number Statement of Financial Position [Abstract] ASSETS Current assets Cash and cash equivalents Marketable securities Prepaid expenses Total current assets Right of use asset Property and equipment, net Other assets Total assets LIABILITIES AND STOCKHOLDERS' EQUITY Current liabilities Accounts payable Accrued liabilities Total current liabilities Lease liability Total liabilities Commitments and contingencies; see Note 5 Stockholders' equity Series A Preferred stock, par value $.0001, issued and outstanding 210 and 38,606, respectively Common stock, par value $.0001 per share; authorized 400,000,000 shares; issued and outstanding 8,008,243 and 6,741,860, respectively Additional paid-in capital Accumulated other comprehensive loss Accumulated deficit Total stockholders' equity Total liabilities and stockholders' equity Statement [Table] Statement [Line Items] Preferred stock, par value Preferred stock, authorized Preferred stock, issued Preferred stock, outstanding Common stock, par value Common stock, authorized Common stock, issued Common stock, outstanding Income Statement [Abstract] Operating expenses General and administrative Research and development Total operating expenses Net operating loss Other income Net loss Unrealized loss (gain) on marketable securities Total comprehensive loss Net loss per share, basic and diluted Weighted average number of common shares outstanding, basic and diluted Accumulated Other Comprehensive Income (Loss) Beginning balance, shares Beginning balance, amount Common stock and pre-funded warrants sold, net of offering costs, shares Common stock and pre-funded warrants sold, net of offering costs, amount Compensation on options and restricted stock issued, shares Compensation on options and restricted stock issued, amount Common stock issued for services rendered, shares Common stock issued for services rendered, amount Common stock issued for convertible preferred stock, shares Common stock issued for convertible preferred stock, amount Exercise of warrants, shares Exercise of warrants, amount Adoption of ASC 842: leases Unrealized gain on marketable securities Net loss Ending balance, shares Ending balance, amount Statement of Cash Flows [Abstract] CASH FLOWS FROM OPERATING ACTIVITIES Net loss Adjustments to reconcile net loss to net cash used in operating activities Depreciation and amortization Amortization of right of use asset Loss on disposal of property and equipment Issuance and vesting of compensatory stock options and warrants Issuance of common stock for services rendered Amortization of premium on marketable securities Changes in operating assets and liabilities Accounts receivable, prepaid expenses and other assets Accounts payable and accrued liabilities Long term portion of lease liability Net cash used in operating activities CASH FLOWS FROM INVESTING ACTIVITIES Purchase of marketable securities Sale of marketable securities Purchase of property and equipment Net cash provided by investing activities CASH FLOWS FROM FINANCING ACTIVITIES Proceeds for issuance of common stock and pre-funded warrants, net of issuance costs Proceeds from the exercise of warrants Net cash provided by financing activities Net change in cash and cash equivalents Cash and cash equivalents, beginning of period Cash and cash equivalents, end of period Organization, Consolidation and Presentation of Financial Statements [Abstract] 1. DESCRIPTION OF BUSINESS Accounting Policies [Abstract] 2. SUMMARY OF SIGNIFICANT ACCOUNTING POLICIES Fair Value Disclosures [Abstract] 3. FAIR VALUE Balance Sheet Related Disclosures [Abstract] 4. BALANCE SHEET COMPONENTS Leases [Abstract] 6. LEASE Commitments and Contingencies Disclosure [Abstract] 6. COMMITMENTS AND CONTINGENCIES Stockholders' Equity Attributable to Parent [Abstract] 7. STOCKHOLDERS' EQUITY Subsequent Events [Abstract] 8. SUBSEQUENT EVENTS Basis of Presentation Going Concern Use of Estimates Principles of Consolidation Liquidity and Management's Plan Net Loss per Share Leases Recent Accounting Pronouncements Anti-dilutive securities Schedule of investments in marketable securities Schedule of fair value on a recurring basis Property, plant and equipment Accrued liabilities Lease liabilities Maturities of operating lease liabilities Warrant activity Shares available for grant under the Plan Options activity Fair value assumptions Outstanding stock options under the 1999 plan Anti-dilutive securities Cash used in operations Amortized cost Accrued interest Gross unrealized gains Gross unrealized losses Estimated fair value Fair Value Hierarchy and NAV [Axis] Current Assets Cash and cash equivalents Marketable securities Office furniture and fixtures Computer equipment and software Property and equipment, gross Less: accumulated depreciation Property and equipment, net Operating costs Lease liability Employee related Total Depreciation expense Current portion included in accrued liabilities Long term lease liability Total 2020 2021 Total Less: imputed interest Operating lease liability Number of warrants outstanding, beginning Number of warrants, issued Number of warrants, exercised Number of warrants outstanding, ending Weighted average exercise price outstanding, beginning Weighted average exercise price, issued Weighted average exercise price, exercised Weighted average exercise price outstanding, ending Shares available for grant, beginning Shares available for grant, options granted Shares available for grant, ending Number of options outstanding, beginning Number of options granted Number of options outstanding, ending Weighted average exercise price outstanding, beginning Weighted average exercise price granted Weighted average exercise price outstanding, ending Risk-free interest rate (weighted average) Expected volatility (weighted average) Expected term (in years) Expected dividend yield Number of options cancelled Weighted average exercise price cancelled Warrants outstanding Compensation expense Unrecognized compensation costs Unrecognized compensation costs period for recognition Custom Element. Custom Element. Assets, Current Assets Liabilities, Current Liabilities Stockholders' Equity Attributable to Parent Liabilities and Equity Selling, General and Administrative Expense Research and Development Expense Operating Expenses Operating Income (Loss) Net Income (Loss) Attributable to Parent Comprehensive Income (Loss), Net of Tax, Attributable to Parent Shares, Issued Net Income (Loss), Including Portion Attributable to Noncontrolling Interest Gain (Loss) on Disposition of Property Plant Equipment, Excluding Oil and Gas Property and Timber Property Increase (Decrease) in Prepaid Expense and Other Assets Payments to Acquire Marketable Securities SaleOfMarketableSecurities Payments to Acquire Property, Plant, and Equipment Net Cash Provided by (Used in) Investing Activities Net Cash Provided by (Used in) Financing Activities Cash and Cash Equivalents, Period Increase (Decrease) Schedule of Accrued Liabilities [Table Text Block] Antidilutive Securities Excluded from Computation of Earnings Per Share, Amount Available-for-sale Securities, Amortized Cost Basis Accrued Investment Income Receivable Available-for-sale Securities, Gross Unrealized Loss AvailableForSaleSecuritiesEstimatedFairValue Cash and Cash Equivalents, Fair Value Disclosure Available-for-sale Securities Property, Plant and Equipment, Gross Accumulated Depreciation, Depletion and Amortization, Property, Plant, and Equipment Lessee, Operating Lease, Liability, to be Paid OperatingLeaseLiabilityPresentValueAdjustments Share-based Compensation Arrangement by Share-based Payment Award, Non-Option Equity Instruments, Outstanding, Number Share-based Compensation Arrangement by Share-based Payment Award, Non-Option Equity Instruments, Exercised Class of Warrant or Right, Exercise Price of Warrants or Rights Share-based Compensation Arrangement by Share-based Payment Award, Number of Shares Available for Grant Share-based Compensation Arrangement by Share-based Payment Award, Options, Outstanding, Number Share-based Compensation Arrangement by Share-based Payment Award, Options, Outstanding, Weighted Average Exercise Price Share-based Compensation Arrangement by Share-based Payment Award, Options, Forfeitures in Period